Gear-cutting machine.



-PATEN IED APR. 19, 1904.

W. A. TWINING. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.,

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WI A: GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOR FILED JAN. 2'], 1902.

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PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

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GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIOATIOK'IILED JAN. 27, 1992.

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Uivrrni) STATES JEatented April 19, 1904.

PATENT Genres.

WILLIAM A. TWINING, CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF- ONE-HALF TO EDVARD A. ALBRIGHT AND CHARLES O. BARTLETT, OF .CLEVE- LAND, OHIO.

GEAR- CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,696, dated April 19, 1904. 4

Application filed January 27, 1902. Serial No. 91,479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. TWINING, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im prov ements in Gear-Cutting Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to machinesfor cutting gears, the object being to provide a ma chine that is positive in its action, even in its movement, and certain of registering, and one which after the work is finishedshall automatically cease operation.

With the above objects in view my invention consists in the structural features and in combination of parts'hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the machine embodying my invention, taken on a line with the axis of the cutter. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the machine, taken on a line with the axis of the chuck or work-holder. Fig. 3 illustrates my improved construction of belt-shifter for the purpose of controlling the action of the machine. Figs.& and 5 are views in side clevation and in top plan view, respectively, of the indexing devices. These figures illustrate, furthermore, means whereby the belt-shifter may be operatedin such a manner as to stop the action'of the machine, and also illustrates the stopping device connected with the indexing means whereby the actual position of the stop is predetermined. Fig. 6 illustrates a cutter-mandrel with a view to setting forth the manner in which the cutter maybe adjusted in relation to the axial line of the blankholding chuck.

A represents a base-plate upon which the operative parts of the mechanism are supported.

B represents amandrel-shaft which includes a cutter-spindle, on which is supported the cutter C, which is adapted to mill or form predetermined spaces. Cutter C is necessarily changed, according to the desired cutter-groove to be made, cutters ofdiiferent contours being substituted as the work requires. The spindie or shaft B is suitably mounted in bearings B and is controlled in its movement and driven by means of a cone-pulley D, being thus designed to be driven at varying speeds, according to the size and shape of the cutter used with the work. The cutter C is mounted upon the shaft B, preferably as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By securing said cutter between the sleeves C C, which are adjustably secured upon the shaft B by means of screw-threaded sleeves C the cutter O can be adjusted longitudinally along the shaft B in either direction. Lock-nuts C and C are employed to securely lock the parts, including the cutter, in a predetermined position. This adjustment should at all times register with the axial line of the chuck holding the work, and this is especially necessary in gear-cutting.

E represents a suitable chuck adapted to hold the work during the cutting of the gearteeth. Chuck E is mounted upon the shaft E, suitably mounted in bearings B and is so constructed with relation to its bearing as to obviate the springing of any of the parts due to the action of the cutter upon the work. The chuck E may be of any suitableconstruction adapted to retain blanks or work to be operated upon in a desired position. To the end of the shaft F opposite to the chuck I have provided an automatic indexing mechanism embodying the following features: Gr represents a ratchet-w heel,which is provided with a series of peripheral teeth 9, which are formed so as to have a very fine or close pitch and are engaged by a spring-pressed pawl g as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, by means of which the wheel G is advanced at predetermined intervals to a certain degree. The advancement of wheel G by means of the pawl g and hence the amount of rotation of the blank contained within the chuck E, is directly consumated through pivoted lever H, which is pivoted to and around the shaft E, which lever carries the spring-pressed pawl in such a position as to be in contact with the teeth g of the wheel G. The lever H is connected to a linkarm H by means of a bolt 71), which extends through the slot 7f of said lever. This linkarm has its lower end provided with a slot, in which is mounted the bolt if, said bolt extending through the slot 72" of the lever H which is pivotally mounted at It and extends in parallelism with the lever H. To properly hold the levers in their proper relation with link H, there is provided a spring H which is connected at its ends with the outer ends, respectively, of levers H and H By the connections above set forth the link H is adjustable lengthwise of both levers H and H, and thereby controls the throw of the lever H and the consequent movement of the wheel G, inasmuch as said wheel G receives its movement from the pawl 9 communicating with the teeth 6, carried on said wheel. ther insure the desired amount of throw given to the wheel G, there is employed a locking or gage'whcel J, with mechanism set forth hereinafter. The wheel J is connected to the shaft F, upon which the chuck E is rigidly mounted, and therefore at all times moves with said shaft and ratchet-wheel. It is necessary that the lever H in its relation with the lever H should be provided with a certain amount of slip or lost motion, and this has been provided for by forming the slot h in the lower end of the link H, as has been before set out. The spring H in connection with these parts, serves the further purpose of preventing rattling thereof.

The mechanism for operating the rotary adjusting and feed movements is illustrated very clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and it consists of a cam K, mounted upon the shaft K, said shaft being in turn connected to the shaft of the cutter C by means of a series of gearing L L L L", said gearing being connected to their shafts and supports in such a manner that they may be removed and replaced by others to impart the desired speed to the shaft K in relation to the shaft of the cutter C. The gear-wheel L is supported by pivoted arm Z, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cam K is so constructed that it acts first through wheel and plunger k to move the pivoted lever H", which at its farther end is connected to the pitman-rod H and through said pitman-rod H to the lever H, pawl g and ratchet-wheel G, giving to said ratchetwheel Gr the necessary throw, according to the adjustment of the parts. For the above objects cam K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed with a lead 7:; and an abrupt stop Z1. The roller or wheel k is held against the camface 70* by means of a weighted rod 00, which acting downwardly on the pivoted lever H forces the plunger 71; upwardly, thus seating roller 7; upon the face of the cam K. Upon the rotation of the shaft 71; in the direction of the arrow the roller 71; runs down the lead it,

6 3 forcing down wardl y the plunger k, and there- To fur-- by actuating the lever H and pitman H and by forcing the latter upwardly forces upward link H, attached to the lever H, thereby moving the wheel G, as heretofore described. The 1 lock-piece M is carried by the lever H and has its V-shaped end adapted to enter one of a series of V-shaped notches formed in theperiphery of the gaging and locking wheel J. Upon reaching the end of the lead 70 the roller is goes over the same and up the abrupt stop [0 thus allowing the rod 0 to quickly throw forward the plunger 71 and withdraw by the above-described connections pivoted lever H pawl g from wheel G and lock-piece M from wheel J. This action of the locking part M, in connection with the wheel K, brings said wheel, and with it the ratchet-wheel G with the work in the chuck E, to a predetermined position, allowing said pawl to slip one tooth or more along said ratchet-wheel G, the slot 7b allowing said ratchet-wheel to throw back the pawl-g and lever H, thus bringing said locking-wheel J, as before stated, to an absolutely-predetermined position and locking it rigidly in said positionuntil the cutter C has passed through the work on the chuck E. The gaging and locking wheel J is changed according to the desired pitch of the gear, and hence is removably connected to shaft F.

The longitudinal feeding movement of the chuck E and the blank contained therein is accomplished by means of a rock-arm R, to which pitman S is adjustably secured. The pitman S is also adj ustably secured to the slide T, which supports the bearing B, through which the shaft to which chuck E is attached runs. The rock-arm R is operated by means of a cam R. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This cam R is provided with a lead A? and an abrupt stop is, which engage the roller is", attached to the rock-arm R. The roller k rests against the face of the cam R and upon rotation of the same draws forward the slide T by means of its connection to the rock-arm R and the abovedescribed mechanism; but upon the roller engaging the abrupt stop lu the spring 2 pulls down lever-arm Y of the bell; crank lever, and thus retracts the whole slide to normal position or position for a new cut by the cutter C, whereupon the slide is again fed forward, as above described. During this movement the pawl g of the ratchet-wheel G and the stop m for the gage-wheel J slide in their respective teeth and are in position when the slide is retracted by said spring 1 to perform their respective functions upon the movement of the plunger K and roller Zr. After the locking and gaging wheel J has made a full revolution and the cutter C has cut the requisite number of teeth on the blank the ma- .chine is automatically stopped by the following mechanism.

N represents the counter-shaft upon which the tight and loose pulleys N and N are located. These pulleys N and N are located approximately parallel with the cone-pulley D, and a belt N conveys the motion and power from the counter-shaft to the machine through this pulley D.

O is a shifting rod which has means for engaging the belt N such as studs 0, one located on either side of the belt. Shifting means, as handle 0, is connected to the rod O for the purpose of moving the same in the direction of the arrow, as seen in Fig. 3.

P is a bracket, rigidly secured, through which the rod 0 passes, and this bracket P is provided with a journal 9 for the passage of the rod 0. On one side this bracket is engaged by an adjustable collar 0, secured to the rod 0, and on the other side by a spring 0 surrounding the rod 0, permitting the same to be shifted in the direction of the arrow, thereby shifting belt N onto the tight pulley N. As the shifting rod 0 is moved in the direction of the arrow and the belt N is shifted on the pulley N a slot 0 formed in the red O, is engaged by a spring-retracted-rod P, holding the said rod 0 against the pressure of spring 0, thereby holding the belt N on the tight pulley N. In order to release or stop the machine, the rod P (see Fig. 5) is extended down to the point below wheel J, where it is provided with an offset portion p, adapted to enter a hole m in the locking-bar M, and which is held away from the locking-bar until the cam j, secured to the wheel J, comes in contact with the pivoted lever P with which said rod P engages. The said offset'portion p of the rod P is held in contact with the hole m of locking-bar M by means of the lower outwardly-inclined end of lever P to which said rod P is attached. This outward throw of the lever P is effected by the piece 3'' on the wheel J on rotation of the same, thereby forcing the rod P toward M and the offset 10 into the hole an. Lever P is normally, forced toward the wheel J by spring B Thus it will be seen that after the wheel J has traveled so that the cam j has reached the upper end of the lever P that the end p of the rod P is forced toward the locking-bar M, and when the same is on its outward movement the said end 9 will engage with the hole m, as seen in Fig. 4, and draw the rod P downwardly and release the shifting rod 0, allowing the spring 0 to return the belt N to the loose pulley N thereby stopping the operation of the machine.

The vertical adjustment of the chuck E is attained by means of a slide W, attached to the support for the chuck E, which carries thereon an internally-screw-threaded bearing E, in which turns the threaded screw U, which is swiveled to the frame at e, and whose rotation tends to raise or lower said bearing E and with it the slide W and chuck E.

What I claim'is 1. In combination with the chuck of a gearcutting machine, an index device comprising a ratchet-wheel, and a gage-wheel connected to the chuck and rotatable therewith, a pair of spring-held levers having a link ad justably connected thereto, with a spring-pressed pawl carried by one of the levers engaging the ratchet-wheel, a locking means actuated by the movement of said levers for engagement with said gage-wheel, and means connected to said levers for actuating the same, a vertically-movable plunger'connected to said lastname'd means, and a cam for actuating said plunger.

2. In a gear-cutting machine, tion of a chuck, an indexing device secured to the chuck, comprising a ratchet-wheel and a lockingwheel, means for revolving said ratchet-wheel comprising a pair of springheld levers, a link connected to said levers, a

spring-pressed pawl carried by one lever engaging the ratchet-wheel, a locking-piece to engage the locking-wheel secured to the other lever, a cam, a plunger actuated by said cam, a lever having one of its ends connected to said plunger, and a pitman actuated by said last-named lever and being operatively connected to one of the first-named levers.

3. In a gear-cutting machine, the combination of a chuck, an indexing device secured to the combinathe chuck comprising a ratchet-wheel and a locking-wheel, means for rotating said ratchet and locking wheels comprising slotted levers, a pawl carried-by one of said levers for engaging said ratchet-wheel, a link, connected to said levers, and having its securing means engaging the slots of said levers, a locking means for engagement with said lockingwheel, and'means for simultaneously actuating said levers and locking means, whereby said pawl and locking means will be alternately moved into engagement with the ratchetwheel and locking-wheel respectively.

4. In a gear-cutting machine, the combination of a chuck, an indexing device comprising a ratchet-wheel and a locking-wheel, a pair of spring-pressed levers adjustably connected by a link, a spring-pressed pawl carried by one of said levers for engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a locking-piece for engaging said locking-wheel carried by the other lever, a pitman connected to the last-named lever, a plunger, a lever having its ends connected to said pitman and plunger respectively and means for actuating said plunger. 7

5. In a gear-cutting machine, in combination with a belt-shifting means including a spring-pressed rod having means thereon engaging the belt and supporting means there for, of an indexing means comprising a ratchet-wheel, a locking-wheel, and means for actuating the ratchet-wheel, a locking member formed with an opening and being carried by said ratchet-wheel-actuating means, a rod normally engaging said belt -shifting means and having its lower portion formed ating means including a pivoted lever for forc' connected to said last-named means, a lever I 5 connected to said pitman, a weight connected to said last-named lever for returning the firstnamed levers to their normal positions, a cam, and a plunger carrying a roller engaging said cam and being operatively connected to said last-named lever.

Signed at'Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, this 1st day of November,

WILLIAM A. TWINING.

Witnesses:

W. E. DONNELLY, E. B. DONNELLY. 

